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Economic development is essentially a process of increasing agricultural
productivity to permit the non-agricultural sector to expand in an ecologically
sustainable manner. Cameroon's natural renewable resources and the environment
suffer enormously from effects of poor food and energy production and their use
patterns in many communities at the grassroots.
Several inter-related factors underlie the situation. These
include:
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The diversity of agricultural and related energy
acquisition and use interests. The diversity is often enveloped in two
broad farming systems categories - the traditional mixed cropping and the
plantation farming systems interests.
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Low levels of investments in traditional mixed
cropping systems. Historically, Cameroonian agricultural policies have
tended to promote mono-cropping systems in plantation farms as more
'productive' and 'modern' than cropping systems in traditional farms, which
have often been referred to as 'primitive'. Now, many who turn to the land
clear more and more land, often with fires, and replace wide varieties of
plant species with a few annual staples. Many farmers face a variety of
environmental and production problems on their land such as soil erosion,
declining soil fertility, diminishing bio-diversity, and declining levels of
farm produce.
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Several farming areas remain as enclaves. Many
others are inaccessible for much of the farming season or year.
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Certain Government development agencies currently
working appear unable to live-up to the task. Some, perhaps as a result
of their mandate and mission, appear more involved in political
administrative activities that are far from being related to the object of
addressing pressing agriculture renewable resources and environmental
development issues practically.
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Trade in products from agriculture, renewable
resources and the environment is unstable with volatile market prices.
The bulk of the products are far from being homogenous. Grassroots community
incomes are low and unstable, resulting in tiny unreliable surpluses to
spend on non-agriculture goods and services including housing, health and
education.
We work on these issues: studying policies and their
outcomes, developing alternatives; advocating policy changes; elaborating
models; using case studies and demonstrating practical merits and demerits of
proposed changes. The aim is to help:
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Increase agricultural productivity;
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Expand the non-agricultural sector; and,
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Regenerate the environment.
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EITD Research
